which of the following best describes why the engineer chose to calculate the permeability of the soil sample in the experimental design in order to evaluate a natural containment system to protect groundwater?

The best description for why the engineer chose to calculate the permeability of the soil sample in the experimental design to evaluate a natural containment system to protect groundwater is: Soils that have low permeability best help protect groundwater because the soil traps pollutants so that chemical and biological breakdown can occur, preventing contaminants from quickly reaching the groundwater. This means the engineer is looking for soils with low permeability to act as a natural barrier that slows down the movement of pollutants, allowing natural processes to degrade them before they contaminate the groundwater.